7.9 Essential vs. Nonessential Adjective Clauses EXAMPLES
EXPLANATION
Reshma Saujani, whose organization helps girls get into computer science, believes the gender balance in the field will improve.
In these examples, the adjective clause is nonessential because we can identify the noun in the main clause without the added information. Read the sentences without the adjective clause. The adjective clause adds extra information to an already complete sentence.
Girls Who Code is based in the U.S., where it has reached girls in all 50 states. Smartphones changed the way (that) people shop. Jeff Bezos wanted a company name that began with A. People who want quick information can use the Web.
In these examples the adjective clause is essential, because, without it, we can’t identify the noun. If we take the adjective clause out, the noun isn’t properly identified, and the idea isn’t complete.
(a) Saujani, who founded Girls Who Code in 2012, thinks there should be more women in computer science. b) The computer, which was invented in the 1940s, has become part of our everyday lives. (c) The computer that I bought two years ago is slow compared to today’s computers.
In example (a), Saujani is unique and does not need to be identified. The clause is nonessential. Example (b) refers to the whole class of computers as an invention. The clause is nonessential. Example (c) refers to only one computer, which is identified by the adjective clause. The clause is essential.
The computer (that) she just bought has a lot of memory. In an essential adjective clause, the relative pronoun The Web, which Tim Berners-Lee created, is a useful tool. that can be used or omitted. In a nonessential adjective clause, the relative pronoun that cannot be used. The relative pronoun cannot be omitted. Notes: Here are some questions to help you decide if the adjective clause needs commas. If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then the adjective clause is set off by commas. ✓ Can I put the adjective clause in parentheses? Google (which was founded in 1998) is a popular search engine. ✓ If the adjective clause is deleted, does the sentence still make sense? Google is a popular search engine. ✓ Is the noun a unique person, place, or thing? Reshma Saujani, who is an advocate for more women in computer science, founded Girls Who Code. ✓ If the noun is plural, am I including all members of a group? Personal computers, which became popular in the 1990s, have changed the way we get information. (all personal computers)
EXERCISE 14 Decide which of the following sentences contain a nonessential adjective clause. Put commas in those sentences. If the sentence doesn’t need commas, write OK. 1. People who text use abbreviations. OK
,
,
2. My father who texted me a few minutes ago is sick. 3. Kids who spend a lot of time on the computer don’t get much exercise. 4. The Freecycle Network™ which was created in 2003 helps keep things out of landfills.
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